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The Examination

@theexamination.org
2.3K followers 51 following 218 posts

Nonprofit newsroom investigating the causes of preventable death and disease. Covering tobacco, big food, pollution and more.

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The Examination @theexamination.org · 25/09/2026
Of the 175,000 comments sent to the FDA about a menthol cigarette ban, 97% were opposition form letters, a new study found. The Biden administration cited that “immense” feedback in shelving it.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 24/09/2026
The Biden administration cited “immense” public comments when it tabled a ban on menthol cigarettes. Turns out those comments were mostly letters echoing tobacco industry talking points, according to a new study.
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How Big Tobacco flooded the FDA with public comments to kill a menthol ban
The tobacco industry generated tens of thousands of opposition letters before the Biden administration backed away from the proposal, a new study found.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 18/09/2026
Officials in Ogijo, Nigeria, have begun removing lead-contaminated soil in neighborhoods around battery recycling factories. It’s the latest response to our investigation, which found lead poisoning linked to factories that supplied the U.S. auto industry.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 17/09/2026
Trucks have begun removing lead-contaminated soil around Ogijo, Nigeria, after an investigation by The Examination and its partners revealed that battery recycling plants, which had supplied the U.S. auto industry, had poisoned residents.
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Nigerian battery recyclers pay for lead cleanup after Examination investigation
Factories are operating again after being fined and told to clean up their act. But months after the government tested residents for lead poisoning, they haven’t gotten their results.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 11/09/2026
Cereal may seem like a natural breakfast choice, but that’s the result of rigorous marketing. Food policy expert Marion Nestle, co-author of “Sugar Coated,” explains how the industry made us believe a spoonful of sugar was a healthy meal.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 10/09/2026
Cereal anchors morning routines for millions thanks to a targeted push by a multibillion-dollar industry. We spoke with @marionnestle.bsky.social about her new book “Sugar Coated,” which details the legal fights and misleading health claims behind a breakfast staple.
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How the cereal industry engineered its way on to every breakfast table
In her new book “Sugar Coated,” food policy expert Marion Nestle explains how cereal makers marketed, lobbied and outmaneuvered regulators for decades.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 04/09/2026
As the EU considers raising cigarette taxes for the first time in 15 years, its member countries are debating how to tax new products like nicotine pouches. Sweden — a top manufacturer for pouches — has stood in the way.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 03/09/2026
Sweden’s finance minister recently shut down EU tobacco tax discussions in protest over a proposed tax on nicotine pouches, which have become synonymous with the country’s economic and cultural pride. Can the 27 member states reach a compromise?
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EU countries clash over nicotine pouch taxes, stalling broader tobacco talks
Sweden, a top manufacturer of pouches, halted an effort to raise taxes on the popular product as the bloc debates how to handle it and other addictive alternatives to cigarettes.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 01/09/2026
Thank you @nytimes.com, Truth Reporting Post and @premiumtimes.bsky.social for partnering with us on this project. Check out the full list of finalists: awards.journalists.org/winners/2026/
awards.journalists.org
2026 Online Journalism Awards Winners
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 01/09/2026
🏅 Our project “The poisonous lead trade” is a finalist for two Online News Association awards: innovation in investigative journalism and excellence in collaborations! Read the investigation ⬇️
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Recycling lead for U.S. car batteries is poisoning people
We documented the toxic fallout of a green technology.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 28/08/2026
Philip Morris International’s undisclosed lobbying meetings with EU staff are now under scrutiny as the European ombudsman investigates. The company pushed the EU Commission to do its bidding for its tobacco products in 10 countries outside the bloc.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 27/08/2026
We’re honored to be among the finalists for the @LoebAwards, which honor the best in business journalism. Winners will be announced Oct. 8. See the full list of finalists:
anderson.ucla.edu
Gerald Loeb Awards
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 27/08/2026
🏆 Our short doc on how the U.S. auto industry fueled lead poisoning in Nigeria is a 2026 Gerald Loeb Awards finalist for business journalism. The investigation shows how global industry decisions can carry profound consequences for communities. Watch ⤵️
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 27/08/2026
The EU’s watchdog is investigating undisclosed meetings between EU staff and the tobacco industry. The move comes after The Examination revealed Philip Morris International pushed EU officials to intervene in other countries’ tobacco control policies.
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Top EU watchdog to investigate tobacco industry’s undisclosed meetings with EU staff
Scrutiny by the EU ombudsman comes after an investigation by The Examination and Politico revealed EU staff took actions that would have benefited Philip Morris International.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 21/08/2026
From the U.K. to India to Quebec, health authorities are taking notice of growing evidence about the health risks of energy drinks. Experts say a battle with the beverage industry is looming.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 20/08/2026
Health officials around the world are stepping up oversight of energy drinks, especially protections for young people. But the beverage industry has beaten similar proposals before. Will this time be different?
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Countries are cracking down on energy drinks. The industry may not go quietly.
Governments in India, the UK and beyond are taking notice as research links energy drinks to health problems.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 18/08/2026
Check out the full list of winners: www.rtdna.org/2026-nationa...
rtdna.org
2026 National Edward R. Murrow Award Winners - Radio Television Digital News Association
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 18/08/2026
🏅 We’re honored to have won a @rtdna.bsky.social Murrow Award for investigative reporting for “the poisonous lead trade,” our collaboration with @nytimes.com about battery recycling plants that have poisoned people in Nigeria with lead. Read the investigation: examination.news/4wzcRLI
examination.news
Recycling lead for U.S. car batteries is poisoning people
We documented the toxic fallout of a green technology.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 14/08/2026
Energy drinks are everywhere, but what does the science say about their risks? We reviewed dozens of studies looking at the impact of energy drinks on heart health, anxiety and more.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 13/08/2026
Energy drinks are everywhere, but concerns about their safety have persisted for years. We reviewed dozens of studies examining links to heart problems, anxiety and more. Here’s what we found ⬇️
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Energy drinks are more popular than ever. Here’s what we know about the health risks.
Highly caffeinated energy drinks have been linked to heart problems, obesity and anxiety.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 06/08/2026
Did the Trump admin put out a Zyn ad? That’s what people are asking after the White House posted a viral TikTok video implying the U.S. military runs on Zyn. With teen use of nicotine pouches on the rise, here’s why the video is concerning ⬇️
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 31/07/2026
@redbull.com spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over more than a decade to fund studies disputing the risks of mixing energy drinks with alcohol — including research that has been used to stymie regulation, our latest investigation found.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 30/07/2026
For over a decade, @redbull.com funded studies that disputed the risks of consuming energy drinks and alcohol together — and research tied to the company has been used to roll back public health regulations in Canada and elsewhere. Read our latest investigation:
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Is it safe to drink Red Bull and vodka? Dubious research tied to the company has shaped energy drink policy.
The company paid scientists whose studies largely found that mixing energy drinks and alcohol isn’t harmful, contrary to most research.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 23/07/2026
Venezuela was already struggling with food insecurity. Then came the earthquakes. Reporter Ana Vanessa Herrero captures how civilians are feeding and rescuing each other as the devastation in La Guaira threatens a new humanitarian crisis.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 21/07/2026
When the @fda.gov falls short on inspections and staffing, the food industry is responsible for policing itself, which experts say leave room for the industry to cut corners and endanger our food supply. Read our full investigation:
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Trump administration cuts threaten already-strained food safety system
Experts say the FDA’s watchdog for America’s food supply is uniquely vulnerable to ongoing federal cutbacks – which could make the system even more reliant on companies policing themselves.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 21/07/2026
The FDA’s Human Foods Program — the agency’s main food safety watchdog — lost about 89 staffers last year, though some were reportedly rehired shortly after.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 21/07/2026
That same year, the Trump administration also froze government-issued credit cards, leaving some @fda.gov staff unable to buy food from stores for testing. A freeze on funds halted plans to train field officers across the country.
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Trump administration cuts threaten already-strained food safety system
Experts say the FDA’s watchdog for America’s food supply is uniquely vulnerable to ongoing federal cutbacks – which could make the system even more reliant on companies policing themselves.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 21/07/2026
Hundreds of @fda.gov workers were let go in 2025, including retail specialists who trained and assisted states in inspecting grocery stories. These officials were responsible for carrying out lab tests, investigating outbreaks and executing recalls of unsafe foods.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 21/07/2026
State and local officials are responsible for inspecting over 90% of produce and all grocery stores in the U.S., but their work depends on support from @fda.gov A — an agency hit hard by cuts under the Trump administration.
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Trump administration cuts threaten already-strained food safety system
Experts say the FDA’s watchdog for America’s food supply is uniquely vulnerable to ongoing federal cutbacks – which could make the system even more reliant on companies policing themselves.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 21/07/2026
Cyclospora spreads through food and water contaminated with human feces. Identifying the source of contamination is key to slowing the outbreak.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 21/07/2026
Thousands of cases of diarrhea caused by the foodborne parasite cyclospora have spread across the U.S., straining a food safety system that was already stretched thin. How did this happen? 🧵⬇️
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Trump administration cuts threaten already-strained food safety system
Experts say the FDA’s watchdog for America’s food supply is uniquely vulnerable to ongoing federal cutbacks – which could make the system even more reliant on companies policing themselves.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 16/07/2026
A year after we contacted the @fda.gov during the 2025 DOGE cuts, a whistleblower approached us, alleging failings during the greenlighting of Zyn nicotine pouches. Here’s how the investigation came together:
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 14/07/2026
A former @fda.gov toxicologist said the agency approved Zyn nicotine pouches for sale without knowing what they're made of — and that the pouches could shed microplastics, potentially harming users. Our investigation, copublished with @statnews.com
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FDA approved Zyn nicotine pouches for sale without knowing what they were made of, says former agency scientist
A toxicologist says the agency’s failure to consider whether the pouch material could shed microplastics shows it’s not doing enough to protect public health.
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Reposted by The Examination
Sasha Chavkin @sashachavkin.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
“Fundamentally, we did not do a proper assessment” Former FDA scientist says the agency approved Zyn nicotine pouches without knowing what was in them - which could include microplastics New from @mattchapman.bsky.social Kathryn Kranhold @theexamination.org
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FDA approved Zyn nicotine pouches for sale without knowing what they were made of, says former agency scientist
A toxicologist says the agency’s failure to consider whether the pouch material could shed microplastics shows it’s not doing enough to protect public health.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 08/07/2026
In “Landman,” workers run from a dangerous gas called hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This is a real problem in Texas. Our 2024 investigation with @houstonchronicle.com found roughly 78k residents near wells associated with high levels of H2S. Some say it’s still a problem. www.youtube.com/shorts/REaHT...
youtube.com
The real-life toxic gas danger revealed by "Landman"
YouTube video by The Examination
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 03/07/2026
From banks to hospitals, American Chambers of Commerce are an ally for many international businesses — including Big Tobacco. Here’s how much they do to help cigarette-makers succeed overseas. ⬇️
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 01/07/2026
🚬 🇺🇸 From Bulgaria to Ukraine, local affiliates of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce promoted the interests of the world’s largest cigarette-makers. Read more: examination.news/4ggJ1aG
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 01/07/2026
From Bulgaria to Ukraine, local affiliates of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce promoted the interests of the world’s largest cigarette-makers.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 25/06/2026
A toxic oil industry practice linked to health harms and climate change is getting worse for the third year in a row, according to a World Bank report.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 24/06/2026
The oil industry’s practice of flaring gas, which spews toxic air emissions into communities and contributes to climate change, has gotten worse for the third year in a row, according to a new World Bank report.
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Oil companies are burning off more gas from wells, polluting the air and heating the planet
A World Bank report found global flaring rose for a third straight year in 2025, spewing air pollution linked to preterm births and respiratory diseases.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 18/06/2026
A new tobacco battle is taking shape as Palau asks the United Nations to classify nicotine under the same category as psychotropic drugs like LSD and ecstasy — a first in 30 years.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 15/06/2026
Palau has asked the United Nations to classify nicotine as a controlled substance, triggering the first WHO review of the drug in 30 years. Experts say it’s a long shot, but the small island nation is taking on an industry accused of hooking a new generation on e-cigs and nicotine pouches.
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Pacific island nation Palau asks UN to classify nicotine as a controlled substance
The request — likely a long shot — comes after the introduction of products that deliver higher concentrations of nicotine.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 11/06/2026
Why do kids beg their parents for foods like Lunchables? And why do parents buy them? You have Big Tobacco to thank for that, explains University of California, San Francisco professor Laura Schmidt.
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How Big Tobacco engineered Lunchables to target kids
Tobacco companies used their cigarette playbook to make ultraprocessed foods appealing to children and moms, internal documents show.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 11/06/2026
The family of a Texan teen who died of a heart attack has long insisted it was caused by a popular, highly caffeinated energy drink. Now, the state’s attorney general is investigating whether the company “is deliberately marketing a potentially harmful product” to children.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 04/06/2026
Countries worldwide are putting warning labels on food. Chile's stop-sign design is the gold standard. The U.S. is proposing something far less effective, researchers say.
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Stop signs, stars or grades: Which food labels help people buy healthier foods?
Researchers say a proposed U.S. food label is less effective than those in other countries and falls short in helping consumers identify healthy foods.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 04/06/2026
Food warning labels are coming to the U.S., according to a proposed rule by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But how does the design compare to warning labels in countries like 🇨🇱 🇮🇩🇮🇳?
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 28/05/2026
The U.S. FDA hopes nicotine pouches can help smokers quit, but new data shows few adult smokers use them to kick their habit — and while use of these products remains low among young people, researchers are watching for signs use could spike in a repeat of the vaping epidemic.
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Nicotine pouches promised to help American smokers quit. So far, the evidence for that is limited.
New data shows few adult smokers are using pouches to quit —  while researchers watch cautiously as youth use remains low.
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 28/05/2026
The U.S. FDA hopes nicotine pouches can help American smokers quit, but new data shows few adult smokers use them to kick their habit — and that teenagers are more familiar with these products than adults. More in our latest newsletter ⬇️
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 21/05/2026
A proposal to change global labelling standards to include cancer warnings and bar misleading claims about alcohol’s health benefits failed after pushback from the United States, Japan and Mexico — all countries with influential alcohol industries. More in our latest newsletter ⬇️
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The Examination @theexamination.org · 14/05/2026
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two fruit-flavored vapes featuring age-verification technology intended to stop kids from using them. But critics say minors have found ways around some age verification safeguards. More in this week's newsletter ⬇️
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